Tom Pohlad Commits to Higher Twins Payroll in 2027

[HarmonK03]

Clemens is not a replacement for Lewis yet.  If Lewis keeps up what he has done since he came back he needs to be the first baseman next year.  He has an OPS of .834 in the last 50 games, only Buxton and Jeffers are better.  Yes I know he needs to finish the year strong but let him play 1B and get comfortable and see how he does.

[clone52]

1 hour ago, Mike Sixel said:

Just put Culpeper at 2nd and Houston at SS, move Clemens to first. There won't be many/any 1B better than Clemens available, imo.

They need a C and ace type pitcher. I'm not sure how they can possibly spend money there, unless they deal for an expensive one.

I am going to assume they aren't going to go get Skubal.  Not sure there is another Ace type available.  If several veterans that maybe would sign for 2-3 years at $20M AAV.  Probably some younger guys who could be had around that for a longer contract.  Could go the trade route, but that's where its going to hurt if you really like prospects.  If you could build a package around Tait, Rodriguez, maybe one of the guys who have made their MLB debut, or Rojas, Quick or Soto?

Could Tait, Rodriguez and Quick get you Hunter Greene if you thought he'd stay healthy?  Logan Webb?
Will the Marlins trade Alcantera (only 2027 left)
Could the Rays sell high on Rasmussen (only 2027 left)

list from yesterday
Tarik Skubal, Kevin Gausman, Freddy Peralta, Michael King (opt-out), Sandy Alcantara (club option), Shane Bieber, Corbin Burnes (opt-out), Brandon Woodruff, Tatsuya Imai (opt-out), Jack Flaherty, Sonny Gray (club option/player option), Clay Holmes (opt-out), Shota Imanaga, Robbie Ray, Nick Pivetta (opt-out), Zac Gallen, Chris Bassitt, Luis Severino (player option), Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, Tyler Mahle, José Berríos (opt-out), Brady Singer, Zach Eflin (mutual option), Trevor Rogers, David Peterson, Matthew Boyd (mutual option), Taijuan Walker, Jameson Taillon, Jeffrey Springs (club option), Drew Rasmussen (club option), Casey Mize, Dustin May (mutual option), Nick Martinez (mutual option), Zack Littell (mutual option), Lucas Giolito (mutual option)

[clone52]

5 minutes ago, HarmonK03 said:

Clemens is not a replacement for Lewis yet.  If Lewis keeps up what he has done since he came back he needs to be the first baseman next year.  He has an OPS of .834 in the last 50 games, only Buxton and Jeffers are better.  Yes I know he needs to finish the year strong but let him play 1B and get comfortable and see how he does.

I also like Clemens as that swing guy that could play almost every day, but at 1B, 2B, corner OF, maybe 3B.

[clone52]

1 hour ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

I really do like the idea of Culpepper at 2b and Houston at SS. That would be really fun to see.

I also, I like the idea of Clemens at 1b, but honestly I'd prefer him as a Ben Zobrist utility play everywhere type. Perfect world Royce either becomes a true masher or they acquire one and move on from Royce. These next few months with Royce getting a full opportunity should answer that question one way or the other.

I do think Lackey debuts in 2027. Not opening day, but he isn't far away. Perfect world (for twins baseball) is finding a way to keep Jeffers here through 2027 at minimum. If he does go elsewhere, I'm not certain who would be the bridge, but I think Caratinis more of a co-starter and/or backup compared to full time. 

To kind of respond above to @clone52 Lopez to me is much more extendable than Ryan. I'd very much see what Ryan would get on the open market after the year before I would Lopez. If you can keep both around, great. If I had to choose one, it's Lopez. But yeah, bringing in another playoff level starter is always good, even if I do like the potential I see in many of their younger arms.

And yeah, if there is payroll room to bring in at least a few legit bullpen arms that works too. 

Well, I was going to respond in one way, but I see that Ryan and Lopez are the same age.  I do think Lopez will come cheaper.  If money were no object, I'd go Ryan all the way, but based on what I think contract would look like, Lopez might be the way to go.

I think Lopez will have to balance whether he wants to extend now, or bet on himself that he bounces back from the injury.  If both have good years next year, Lopez is probably a little cheaper.

[Cory Engelhardt]

3 minutes ago, clone52 said:

Well, I was going to respond in one way, but I see that Ryan and Lopez are the same age.  I do think Lopez will come cheaper.  If money were no object, I'd go Ryan all the way, but based on what I think contract would look like, Lopez might be the way to go.

I think Lopez will have to balance whether he wants to extend now, or bet on himself that he bounces back from the injury.  If both have good years next year, Lopez is probably a little cheaper.

And, I see Lopez as a guy you want your other pitchers to be around and learn from. Not that Ryan isn't that, but of all the playoff level starters that are out there, when Lopez is throwing well he is both a top end guy as well as a coach/mentor. That's who I extend.

This is not saying that Ryan isn't that. More I have seen Lopez (outside of this year with injuries) get better as years go on. I've not seen that with Ryan as much. So getting to September and October, I have much less doubt that Lopez will be solid and ready to go than I do Ryan. At least over the last 3-4 seasons of games.

[clone52]

2 minutes ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

And, I see Lopez as a guy you want your other pitchers to be around and learn from. Not that Ryan isn't that, but of all the playoff level starters that are out there, when Lopez is throwing well he is both a top end guy as well as a coach/mentor. That's who I extend.

This is not saying that Ryan isn't that. More I have seen Lopez (outside of this year with injuries) get better as years go on. I've not seen that with Ryan as much. So getting to September and October, I have much less doubt that Lopez will be solid and ready to go than I do Ryan. At least over the last 3-4 seasons of games.

I like that point.  Ryan is fiery.  Maybe don't want that rubbing off as much.  Lopez is calm and honestly fantastic when he was in the TV booth a couple weeks ago.  That kind of presence could be a huge deal with all the young arms.

Ryan can probably bring a lot too, but it is a different personality.

[The Great Hambino]

I wonder if Lopez would be open to an extension with some healthy incentives to hedge against complications in his return from TJ.  I'd be open to that

I'd also like to see them give a Brewers-style extension to one/both of Jenkins and Culpepper.  And be aggressive in adding salary in the trade market in areas where the FA pool is shallow.

Increased spending doesn't have to come in the form of free agents.  Basically, get creative. 

[TheLeviathan]

2 hours ago, chpettit19 said:

Not even a little. You're actually a great example of how easy it is. You've given me a thumbs down and/or complained about every post I've made about not being convinced anything has changed because the Twins added Nance, Minter, Kremer, and Hoffman over the last few weeks. That's all it took and you're back on board.

That is about as easy as it gets. They changed the first name of the Pohlad in charge and made the absolute minimal investment possible and you're back. That is not a hard PR situation. You're example A of why it isn't hard at all.

Why not both?  It's hard in the sense that there is such an uphill battle to climb and the vast majority of people who used to pay attention are tuned out.  Which is why words and a flimsy deadline are a silly thing for us to have four articles gushing about the Pohlads and the deadline.  Most fans don't care.

Which is also why here, on TD, it seems to be easy.  We've got multiple ongoing threads that are gross as hell falling all over themselves to be happy about this.  Thing is....the folks who want to be all sunshine and rainbows right now would have been right there in front of their TV, or sitting in the stands, whether the team bought or sold.  The venn diagram of "happy we didn't sell" and "wouldn't have done anything to hold the team accountable either way" is a perfect circle.

[Woof Bronzer]

Tom thinks Twins fans are stupid.

The Pohlads ran a $160 mil payroll in 2023.  This family is so dedicated to winning and running competitive payrolls that...the uncles stepped in, fired the failnephew who ran the high payroll, immediately told fans they were cutting payroll, and haven't sniffed that payroll since.  

This was not even 3 years ago.  

Tom first appeared in a Twins press conference in September, so he's been on the job almost a full year.  His current payroll is $113m, up from $100m at the start of the season.

Golden Rule of Minnesota Twins Fandom:  Pay attention to what the Pohlads do, not what they say.   

[dxpavelka]

16 hours ago, Dman said:

Yeah I think we need to wait and see.  What is more spending? 5M, 10M? More doesn't necessarily mean all that much more.  I am happy to hear they aren't planning on cutting more, but they have a ways to go to sell me on more especially in what looks like a short and down FA year.

Heck I don't even know that Zoll is a competent GM.  I just don't understand what they are doing with roster construction at all these days. Right now as things stand the rotation looks like Pablo, Ryan, Bradley, Ober and Kremer. So no room for Prielipp, Abel and Rojas who all look like they might be better options than Ober and Kremer.  I can see having some depth to maybe move Matthews to the pen where he can be a power arm, but I don't love Ober and Kremer as my backend and they paid extra at the deadline for Kremer.

They could have traded Jeffers for a close to ready arm and gotten Gausman instead of Kremer for a cheaper price if they really wanted to go for it this year.  Then they would have enough young arms in place of Kremer.  They need to think about 2028 too as they will likely lose Ryan and Lopez so getting young guys experience in the 4th and 5th spots would be good before those guys are gone. I just don't see the 2027 or 2028 vision for this team.

They still have too many left handed outfield bats and they need room for the younger players ready to come up.  

Who knows.  I guess if Tom is ready to spend then maybe all these problems go away. Maybe they extend some players.  Maybe they bid on Jeffers.  Who knows.  All I can say right now is my level of confidence is low.

Your level of confidence has very little impact on what happens on the field.

[clone52]

16 hours ago, Cory Engelhardt said:

I really do like the idea of Culpepper at 2b and Houston at SS. That would be really fun to see.

I also, I like the idea of Clemens at 1b, but honestly I'd prefer him as a Ben Zobrist utility play everywhere type. Perfect world Royce either becomes a true masher or they acquire one and move on from Royce. These next few months with Royce getting a full opportunity should answer that question one way or the other.

I do think Lackey debuts in 2027. Not opening day, but he isn't far away. Perfect world (for twins baseball) is finding a way to keep Jeffers here through 2027 at minimum. If he does go elsewhere, I'm not certain who would be the bridge, but I think Caratinis more of a co-starter and/or backup compared to full time. 

To kind of respond above to @clone52 Lopez to me is much more extendable than Ryan. I'd very much see what Ryan would get on the open market after the year before I would Lopez. If you can keep both around, great. If I had to choose one, it's Lopez. But yeah, bringing in another playoff level starter is always good, even if I do like the potential I see in many of their younger arms.

And yeah, if there is payroll room to bring in at least a few legit bullpen arms that works too. 

I don't believe their is a recent comp to Lackey debuting in 2027. 

Even the Kyle Teel path puts him at a 2028 debut.

Mike Zunino drafted in 2012 and debuted in 2013.  Was a decent defensive catcher but his hitting was pretty bad is first three years.  Also called up on a really bad Mariners team in 2013.  Unlikely he would have gotten called up on a decent team.

 

[NYCTK]

17 hours ago, chpettit19 said:

Not even a little. You're actually a great example of how easy it is. You've given me a thumbs down and/or complained about every post I've made about not being convinced anything has changed because the Twins added Nance, Minter, Kremer, and Hoffman over the last few weeks. That's all it took and you're back on board.

That is about as easy as it gets. They changed the first name of the Pohlad in charge and made the absolute minimal investment possible and you're back. That is not a hard PR situation. You're example A of why it isn't hard at all.

A lot of easy marks in this country, very susceptible to basic marketing from billionaires. 

Why anyone would ever give Mr Pohlad the benefit of the doubt when this organization has been run into the ground by a series of Mr Pohlads is just unfathomable. 

It's not even just the payroll. This organization is a joke and has been since 1992 basically. We saw moments of exceptions, but mostly thanks to natural ebbs and flows of major league baseball. 

But, no, sure, I'm sure if we just give Mr Pohlad a chance he can fix all the mistakes or Mr Pohlad. 

[NYCTK]

17 hours ago, USAFChief said:

Ownership has a massive, enormous credibility gap with 99 percent of their fan base and potential fan base. Me included. Richly deserved

That's your entire point.

But sure, he has an easy PR job.

That's moronic. You're just blinded by hatred.

Nobody has said ownership has earned back trust. Nor have they spent what they should. 

But there have been positive words, positive moves. The statements above are more positive words. Need followup, for sure

But I'm encouraged. Sue me. 

In the meantime, maybe pull in the constant vitriol for a day or two.

You're commenting under an article titled "Tom Pohlad Commits to Higher Twins Payroll in 2027", posted shortly after the articles titled "Tom Pohlad Promised He Wasn't a "Half Measures" Guy. This Trade Deadline Proved It." and "The Twins Have Never Before Spent Like This at a Trade Deadline". 

Yeah. The PR job is easy.

We just saw how easy it is, with the independent fan run website is now running PR for him. Baseball relies on optimism so all he has to do is wave at it and the fans will latch on. 

[Twins GFP]

18 hours ago, USAFChief said:

Who TF were they going to spend money on in March and April??

 

So If I had said December/January, would you attack that comment too?

The point my comment was that ownership did not spend any money on the BP in the offseason, and you know that.

For the record, here is a list of bullpen pitchers that signed after Mar 1 that would have been an improvement on what that Twins had at the start of the season:

Danny Coulombe
Jalen Beeks
Ryan Borucki
Tim Mayza
Zack Littell
Patrick Corbin
Lucas Giolito
 

[Major League Ready]

There are two MLB teams with below average revenue doing really well this year.  Tampa has 10 players on track to produce 1.5 WAR or more.  One of them (Martinez) was acquired as a free agent.  He is on a 1 year $9M deal with a mutual option for 2027.  Milwaukee has 15 players on track to produce 1.5 WAR or more.  None of them were acquired as free agents.  

It sure could not hurt if the Twins spent another $40M but the role of free agency for below average revenue teams has to be filing a hole or two.  Any more reliance than that and the likelihood of meaningful success is quite low.

[Mike Sixel]

2 minutes ago, Major League Ready said:

There are two MLB teams with below average revenue doing really well this year.  Tampa has 10 players on track to produce 1.5 WAR or more.  One of them (Martinez) was acquired as a free agent.  He is on a 1 year $9M deal with a mutual option for 2027.  Milwaukee has 15 players on track to produce 1.5 WAR or more.  None of them were acquired as free agents.  

It sure could not hurt if the Twins spent another $40M but the role of free agency for below average revenue teams has to be filing a hole or two.  Any more reliance than that and the likelihood of meaningful success is quite low.

That's why I think they should go big on one FA, and not sign three mediocre guys. Maybe play a rookie occasionally.....

[Major League Ready]

2 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

That's why I think they should go big on one FA, and not sign three mediocre guys. Maybe play a rookie occasionally.....

That makes sense.  They need to replace Larnach in the field.  Did you notice the last few games the plays he could not quite get to that were costly?  He could be a DH but they have too many potential upgrades in the system to plug the holes in the OF or at SS with a free agent.  They could spend some money on a catcher next year and move Caratini to a BU role but I don't see that happening.

Where you would most commonly expect to spend would be on the rotation.  They already have Ryan, Lopez, Bradley, Ober, Kremer, Abel, Prielipp, Matthews, Rojas, and perhaps Festa for next year.  If they bring in another guy, they are 6 deep in veterans.  Abel, Prielipp, Matthews, Rojas, and Festa would be depth.  They could trade Ober and Kramer replacing them with one front of the rotation guy.  That works and of course pitchers get hurt but stashing this many quality SP prospects at AAA does not seem like a good plan.

At the end of next year they will lose 4 of these 6 veterans.  Now you are back to a very inexperienced rotation.  It actually makes more sense that they would add a SP in 2028 to supplement some combination of Bradley, Abel, Prielipp, Rojas, Matthews, Quick, Ellwanger, and Soto

[Mike Sixel]

12 minutes ago, Major League Ready said:

That makes sense.  They need to replace Larnach in the field.  Did you notice the last few games the plays he could not quite get to that were costly?  He could be a DH but they have too many potential upgrades in the system to plug the holes in the OF or at SS with a free agent.  They could spend some money on a catcher next year and move Caratini to a BU role but I don't see that happening.

Where you would most commonly expect to spend would be on the rotation.  They already have Ryan, Lopez, Bradley, Ober, Kremer, Abel, Prielipp, Matthews, Rojas, and perhaps Festa for next year.  If they bring in another guy, they are 6 deep in veterans.  Abel, Prielipp, Matthews, Rojas, and Festa would be depth.  They could trade Ober and Kramer replacing them with one front of the rotation guy.  That works and of course pitchers get hurt but stashing this many quality SP prospects at AAA does not seem like a good plan.

At the end of next year they will lose 4 of these 6 veterans.  Now you are back to a very inexperienced rotation.  It actually makes more sense that they would add a SP in 2028 to supplement some combination of Bradley, Abel, Prielipp, Rojas, Matthews, Quick, Ellwanger, and Soto

I'm likely adding the best starting pitcher I can sign, and trading Ryan, or Ober, or Kremer, or some combination of those. If Larnach is on the roster, he's the DH. Emma and Jenkins and Culpeper and Houston all up to start the year, if healthy. Culpeper at second. 

Clemens and Kriedler are my primary bench. Maybe Martin as a RH platoon with Larnach, PR, whatever guy. 

[MMBoys93]

They also had to add better prospect capital to the trade all to save 3.5 million on Jeff Hoffman next year.
 
I can’t imagine he’s lying, but he doesn’t say how much here.

Payroll is still 40 million less than 2023

Payroll is still almost 20 million lower than in 2018. Inflation has been 33% since then.

128 million in 2018 is 170 million now. 

“Things will be weird with likely lockout but if the plan isn’t shooting for 140 million minimum for this “contending team” they keep screaming about then the Pohlad’s don’t befront me.” - George Thorogood

[MMBoys93]

On 8/5/2026 at 2:42 PM, chpettit19 said:

I know we're going to analyze everything the new Pohlad says every time he says something, but we really shouldn't. I'm a weak man so I'll participate. But we shouldn't care about 1 word he says ever and shouldn't judge any change in ownership until 2031. Give him 5 years.

They were different in 2023, right? Look how high that payroll got! We were shooting for the moon! We had a payroll big enough to support real free agent signings. We were ready to play with the big boys. We even had Scott Boras singing the Twins' praises! We finally did it! We got the Pohlads to spend!

Wrong. 

Tom has the easiest PR situation ever right now. He can say "we're going to invest!" and spend a whopping $8 million at the deadline and fans start eating it up. "They've changed! They've changed! Tom really cares and gets it!" The fans are starved for any sign of improvement. Their payroll is at 2015 levels and fans are already jumping back on the Pohlad bandwagon. How about we give him 5 years to actually show they're going to invest. When the sales pitch is a little harder than "look, we spent anything at all at the deadline. I told you we cared."

All this to say I think it's all just an attempt to boost the price when they sell the team after the CBA is finished.

Ackchuualllyyy the 108m payroll in 2015 translates to 148m with inflation so payroll hasn’t been this bad since 2009 when the payroll was a dreadful 57m or 85m today. Even the payrolls of 80-85 million in 2013-2014 are 115-120m with inflation.

Translation- no fans should be doing any praise until the payroll goes up 20% at bare freaking minimum 

[MMBoys93]

On 8/5/2026 at 3:16 PM, Mike Sixel said:

Masterful isn't the word you are describing, though. 

Where are you spending money? Look at the FAs......If Houston or Culpeper isn't the starting SS next year, I'll be flabbergasted. Truly. I'd have them both up, with Houston at SS, KC at 2b, and Clemens at 1b. 

Looking at free agents is the wrong way to spend money. Trading teams that are rebuilding for controllable talent and signing players to early extensions is the way to do it. This is exactly the way that Tampa Bay, Cleveland and Milwaukee build perennial contending teams.

Then they can use free agency to supplement where the team might still be lacking.

 

[Mike Sixel]

45 minutes ago, MMBoys93 said:

Looking at free agents is the wrong way to spend money. Trading teams that are rebuilding for controllable talent and signing players to early extensions is the way to do it. This is exactly the way that Tampa Bay, Cleveland and Milwaukee build perennial contending teams.

Then they can use free agency to supplement where the team might still be lacking.

 

Cool. What position are you targeting? 

[Major League Ready]

1 hour ago, Mike Sixel said:

I'm likely adding the best starting pitcher I can sign, and trading Ryan, or Ober, or Kremer, or some combination of those. If Larnach is on the roster, he's the DH. Emma and Jenkins and Culpeper and Houston all up to start the year, if healthy. Culpeper at second. 

Clemens and Kriedler are my primary bench. Maybe Martin as a RH platoon with Larnach, PR, whatever guy. 

I can get behind this plan.  Ryan made $6.2M this year, scheduled for $13M next year.  If they spend an extra 20M on that spot, the net change is very viable if all the young guys you mentioned are up.  The other net changes would be:

+8.9M for Hoffman.   -6.7M from Jeffers.  -5.75 for Bell.  Larnach and Lewis get increases as would Kremer and Ober if they remain on the team.    They will also need to replace or resign Minter.   The net would be an increase of 30-35M.

[MMBoys93]

53 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

Cool. What position are you targeting? 

I’m targeting guys who have shown defensive competence and potentially have more to unlock offensively that their current org can’t help with. And obviously starting pitching. 

Guys entering Arb 1- Arb 2 next year or super 2 Arb 1-3, even pre-arb guys if the team is far enough away from contending or not sold on the player.

Oakland, LAA comes to mind. 

Baltimore obviously just sold Rutschman so they’re likely open for business. 
Miami, Washington, St Louis, Cincy, Pit. 
 

It’ll take some scouting effort but Twins did well on Bradley, Pablo. It’ll cost prospects or other MLB ready players but if the Twins feel they can unlock more out of someone, then I’m all for it. TB and MIL have done this for years. 
 

 

[USAFChief]

1 hour ago, MMBoys93 said:

t’ll take some scouting effort 
 

 

Heh.

 

[sweetmusicviola16]

No, same Pohlad's. Just a different body to view. The 3.5mil the Jays are paying of Hoffman's 2027 salary proves to me it's the same Pohlad's. Everyone in the world knows that when the trading team picks up salary the prospect return is higher. This wasn't Zolls decision I don't believe. That came from higher up.  Same Pohlad's. 

[MMBoys93]

17 hours ago, USAFChief said:

Heh.

 

Yeah, that’s the part that was funny to me as well. If you remember the Poorlads cut some scouting jobs just last year to save a few bucks.